Device for sorting laundry



DEVICE FOR SORTING LAUNDRY Filed Feb. 19, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEY fa 19WPatented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. DAVIS, OFGLENDALE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, ANGELO GREGG, AND ANTONIOMANGOGNA, ALL OF GLENDALE, NEW YORK DEVICE FOR SDRTING LAUNDRYApplication filed February 19, 1930.

This invention relates to a device for sorting and identifying laundry.

Experience in the operation and managementof laundries has shown that itis necessary to have some simple but positive means oi. sorting andmarking laundry so that the proper articles are returned to the properparties. In most cases a bundle of laundry will contain many articlesthat can not be washed w together, such as colored pieces, shirts,silks,

etc. Man y times small pieces are lost or where the laundry is separatedinto several lots, a

whole part of the bundle will be lost. This results in dissatisfactionand consequent loss of trade.

'lheretore, the object of this invention is to yn'ovide a device forsorting and marking the laundry in such a way that no pieces at all willbe lost.

t) Another object of the invention is to provide a device by which alarge number oi bundles may be quickly and easily sorted without theemployment of a large number of people to sort the laundry. 5 A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a device that will be simple touse so that even unskilled workers, such as are usually employed inlaundries, may sort the launi'lry without error and without having to begiven a great deal of instruction.

iii further object of the invention is to provide a (levice by which thelaundry may be quickly reassembled after ithas been washed and whichwill provide a positive check against any part of the bundle being leftout and not returned to the customer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which will beinexpensive to manufacture and use and in which the possibility ofbreakage or the cost of replacement will be very small.

The invention consists of the construction and combination of parts, asherein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, is illustrated oneform of embodiment of the invention, in which drawings similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Serial No. 429,532.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the device as used; and,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the re taining bracket.

Referring to the drawings, framework upon which is disposed an A- shapedrack 4. The rack 4 is provided with handles 5 so that the rack may belifted and removed from the framework 3. On each side of the rack 4 isdisposed a row of projecting studs or fingers 6. Each of the fingers 6is adapted to hold a bracket 7. The bracket 7 is made of a single pieceof metal and comprises a rectangular back wall 8 adapted to lie againstone taco oi the rack 4; a. bottom portion 9 at right angles to the back8; and a reduced, upturned projecting finger 10, extending from thebottom 9.

Formed in the bottom 9 is a series of holes 11. Another hole 12 isformed in the back 8, near the top thereof, so that the bracket 7 may behung on one of the projecting studs 6. On the back wall 8 of eachbracket is stamped a number or other indentifying indicia. Each bracket7 has a diiferent numher or indicia 13. isposed in the holes'll in thebottom 9 are safety pins 14- of varying sizes. Each of the pins 14 carrya number or other indicia 15. The pins are made in sets so that each setof pins 14 carry the same number 15 as that shown on the back wall 8.The pins 14 are used to close the mouths of nets 16 in which the laundryis placed to be washed. Since the pins 14 bear the same numher as thebracket 7 to which they belong, it is very easy to replace the pins 14,or the nets 16 to which they are attached, on the proper bracket 7.

The use of this device is as follows: When the bundles of laundry arebrought in they each have a tag identifying the owner. The bundles aretaken to a sorting table and each tag is given a number corresponding tothe number of one of the brackets 7. Each bundle is then opened andsorted. In each bundle there are usually many articles which have to bewashed separately. For example, colored pieces cannot be Washed withwhite pieces, socks, shirts and silks also have to be washed separately.As each bundle; is sepa- 3 designates a rated into its component partseach part is placed in a net 16. The net 16 is then closed by means ofone of the pins 14. After each component part of the bundle has beenplaced in a net, the laundry is ready to be washed. The nets are thensent along to the washing machines and the next bundle is sorted.

When all of the brackets 7 on one face of. the rack 4 have been used,the rack 4 is lifted c by means of the handles 5 and turned around so asto present its other face to the sorting table. When all of the bracketson the opposite face of the rack A have been used the rack 1 is removedfrom the frame3 and a new rack 4 substituted. By this time the firstnets have been washed so that the first rack 4 can be placed adjacentthe assembling table in order that the bundles may be reassembled.

WVhen the nets 16 leave the sorting table they are placed in severalmachines, the white pieces in one machine, colored pieces in another,etc. along with similar nets containing similar pieces After the nets,and the laundry contained in them, have been washed, the nets are placedall together in an extractor and the water extracted. Thereafter, thenets are sent to the assembling table so that the bundles may bereassembled- By this time the nets are well mixed up.

The nets are then sorted according to the numbers on the pins 14L andare hung, by means of the pins 14, on the projecting finger 10 of theproper bracket 7. WVhen all of the nets have been collected and hung onthe finger 10 of the proper bracket 7 the bundle or bag of wet wash isready to be assembled.

If the. whole bundle of laundry is simply.

wet wash then the nets are emptied into the bag and the laundry is readyto' be returned to the customer. If, however, some part of the wash isto be ironed or otherwise treated, the net containing thisportion of thelaundry is withheld and finished laten.

WVhen the nets are hung on the finger 10 there must be one net for eachpin 14 that is not in the holes 11. If a pin 14 is missing their one netis missing and the laundry is not ready to be returned to the customer.In this way a positive check is secured against the loss of any part ofa bundle of laundry. The use of the nets insures'againstthe loss. ofanysmallpieces such as handkerchiefs or' napkins. Therefore, it will beseen that the foregoing method provides a check against the loss orconfusion of laundry and at the same time allows the laundry to behandled expeditiously even if the help employed has no great amount ofintelligence.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letter Patent'is:

1, A laundry sorting attachment comprising a perforated, numbered platehaving an extension at an angle thereto, said extension being providedwith a plurality of openings and a projection.

2. A laundry sortin attachment comprising a perforated, num be'red platehaving an extension at an angle thereto, said extension being providedwith a plurality of openings ture.

WILLIAM E. DAVIS.

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